“It’s clear to see consumer confidence is returning and that’s reflected in the year-on-year figures.

“We are seeing more and more first-time buyers coming to the market eager to take that step onto the property ladder.

“Flats are selling well with an increase in sales of 34 per cent compared to last year and detached properties are continuing to be popular, with sales up 28 per cent over the last 12 months.

“The mid-range of the market is the busiest at the moment, with buyers looking to spend between £125,000 and £200,000.”

According to Poppy a busier market is translating into quicker sales, but higher prices are expected to follow. She said:“We have also seen a rise in the number of viewings over the last three months and closing dates are becoming more common as multiple buyers are interested in one property.

“Despite the growth, the majority of properties are selling around the Home Report valuation so we have yet to see evidence of prices rising substantially but we are confident that if the market continues to move forward, this will come.”